Sheppard ready for return role

Eagles Notes

September 09, 2006|By Larry O'Rourke and Gordie Jones Of The Morning Call

Reno Mahe missed the Eagles' final preseason practice Friday and remained listed as "doubtful" because of an ankle sprain, making it likely that cornerback Lito Sheppard and possibly running back Brian Westbrook will see action as Philadelphia's punt returner in Sunday's season opener at Houston.

Although Sheppard returned 49 punts -- including two for touchdowns -- during his career at the University of Florida, he has returned only eight (for 66 yards) since the Eagles selected him with the 26th pick of the 2002 NFL draft.

"Obviously, the first thing you want to do is catch the ball," Sheppard said. "After that, you just return it. I did it for a long time. It's second nature."

Sheppard said he isn't worried about being too winded from covering Houston receivers to be effective, but coach Andy Reid said he will keep an eye on that possibility in given situations.

As for any increased chance of injury, Sheppard said: "I'm not worried. It's the same as me tackling somebody. There will be contact out there."

As a second-year player in 2003, Westbrook turned two of 20 punt-return chances into touchdowns, including one against the Giants that is widely credited with turning around the season for Philadelphia. But as his role has increased in the Eagles' offense the last two years, his punt return opportunities dwindled to 11. So it is likely he will get the call only if Reid notices Sheppard needs a break.

Remain calm: After being ejected from the 2005 season opener at Atlanta because the Falcons baited him into a pregame altercation, Eagles middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said he will restrain himself before Sunday's opener. "I'll make sure this time I stay on my side of the field," Trotter said. "I'll save it for the game. It was tough sitting in that locker room.

"You work really hard to go out there and make plays, and you want to be out there with your teammates. I feel like I let a lot of people down. Obviously, it was a crazy situation. Things happened so fast. Some things you can control, some you can't. It was what it was. I learned from it. I think we all learned from it. I think the whole NFL learned from it because they made a rule that you can't practice at midfield."

Ready, set, action?: Unlike a year ago when then rookie third-round pick Ryan Moats was designated inactive at running back for the season opener and seven of the next nine games, it sounds as if undrafted rookie free agent Hank Baskett will be among the 45 active players -- and be very active -- Sunday.

Asked if Baskett is the "No. 3 receiver," Reid said, "Right now, yeah. We're rolling guys in there. To say he is [No. 3] depends on the play."

Baskett certainly is anticipating seeing action.

"I had to get tickets for 20 people," he said. "My parents are driving down right now [from New Mexico]. And they'll fly up here next week [for the home opener]."

Baskett said he has heard a lot of people in his hometown of Clovis, N.M., are sporting Eagles No. 84 jerseys in his honor -- despite the fact that most of that area's football fans pledge allegiance to the Dallas Cowboys.

And he just laughed when somebody suggested maybe those jerseys are hand-me-downs from Philadelphia that used to have former Eagles' wide receiver Freddie Mitchell's name across the back.

"That's fine," Baskett said.

Nice to see: Few people were happier than Eagles special teams coordinator John Harbaugh to see J.R. Reed sign with the St. Louis Rams.

"I'm like anybody else -- probably like all the fans in Philadelphia -- I'm a fan of J.R. I want to see him come back [from a serious leg injury]," Harbaugh said. "I want to see 15 years from now them doing a movie about J.R. Reed and his comeback. It would have been neat if it was in an Eagles helmet, but numbers didn't work out that way. I think [general manager] Tom Heckert said it best, "We still like J.R., we still wish he was on our football team.' But he is going to do great. He's a warrior. He's a good person. It's a great story."